Air-ship.



PATENTED MAR. '7, 1905.

H. E. HONEYWELL.

AIR SHIP.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 6,1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 784,161. PATENTED MAR. 7, 1905. H. E. HONEYWELL.

AIR SHIP.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY s, 1903.

2 sunmssnnm 2.

No. 784,1 c1.

Patented March "2, 1905..

Ii rrncn.

HENRY E. HONEYWELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AlFf-SHlF".

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 784,161, dated March 7, 1905.

Application filed July 6, 1903. Serial No. 164.4%.

To (all when), it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY E. HONEYWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Air-Ships, of which the following is a specification.

M y invention rel-ates to an improvement in air-ships, and has for its object to produce a compact and thoroughly reliable dirigible airship in which the pro 'ielling force is practically applied to the best advantage for obtaining speed, insuring steadiness, and controlling the movements of the vessel.

The invention consists in features of novelty, as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, forming part of this specification, where- Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved air-ship; Figs. 2 and 3, front and rear end elevations, respectively, thereof; Fig. 4, a detail view, to enlarged scale, corresponding to that seen to the left in Fig. 2, of one side of the framework (broken away) of the aeroplane with its operating-arms forming part of my invention and showing its hinged junction with the main frame of the air-ship; and Fig. 5, a side view thereof as seen to the left in Fig. 1; Fig. 6, an inverted plan of the airship; Fig. 7, a top plan, to enlarged scale, of a portion of the main frame, showing pref erable means for securing the fabric composing the balloon or gas-bag thereto; and Fig. 8, a cross-section thereof on line 8 8 in Fig. 7

Like letters and numerals of reference denote like parts in all the figures.

(4 represents the balloon or gas-bag of my improved air-ship, which when inflated is preferably of an elongated seinipear shape, as shown, having its largest and uppermost convex portion or volume 1 at the stern and adjacent forward portion of the air-ship and its remaining elongated convex portion or volume 9. gradually diminishing from the part 1 to a straight horizontal transverse edge, or practically ml, at the forward end or how The bottoms of the balloon a is practically flat, except as otherwise constrained by the pressure of the contained gas.

The envelop of the gas-bag a is composed of suitable fabric 5, which is preferably doubled or folded on itself at its lower horizontal surrounding edge or base l, where it is strengthened by a marginal wire (5, (see particularly Figs. 7 and 8,) inserted in the fold between the layers of the fabric 5. and. beyond the wire 6 the fabric 5 is strongly sewed together by 'ireferably double rows of stitching7. Through the double layers of the fabric 5, between the wire 6 and stitching 7, are inserted at suitable distances apart preferably metal eyelet-ril'igs 8.

Around the gasdragm, opposite or adjacent to its base at, is arranged a frame or bar I), composed, preferably, of light metal tubing of varying thickness and practically integral throughrmt.

Through the eyelet-rings 8 of the gas-bag a and around the frame 6 consecutively over and under is passed a cord or wire 9, which on being tightened firmly secures the gas-bag a to the frame 7).

To the forward end 3 of the frame 71 or bow of the air-ship is hinged one end of an aeroplane 0, having a framework it), of preferably light metal tubing, which is covered with suitable fabric 11, the sides of its framework ll) tapering or diminishing trinvard its forward or outer free end conformably to the sides of the main frame 7; and the upper and lower surfaces of the aeroplane a forming practically a continuation of the corrcsponding surfaces, respectively, of the gas-bag a.

To each side of the framework ll) in pronimity to its hinge 3 are fixed an upper arm l2 and a lower arm 12, from the outer free ends of which respectively pass cords 13 13' indi cated by broken lines) to within reach of the aeronaut, so that by pulling on the cords 13 or 13 the aeroplane can be raised or lowered on its hinge 3 to any desired angle with the frame I) for raising or lowering the air-- ship at its forward end or bow accordingly.

From the frame 7 at a suitable distance therefrom and preferably in or about a vertical line passing through the center of gravity of the inflated gas-bag u, is suspended by braces 14: a platform or car (1, which supports the aeronaut'and other necessary equipment of the air-ship and on which are fixed the propeller-motors e.

The propellers f, preferably twin screws, are fixed at the stern end of the gas-bag a on the outer ends of shafts g, which are mounted in bearings h, parallel or thereabout and longitudinally with the base 4 of the gas-bag a in close proximity thereto, so that the thrust of the propellersf on the atmosphere is approximately transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the gas-bag to instead of at a considerable distance therefrom, whereby the airship is propelled more directly and to the best advantage for insuring steadiness thereto, or, in other words, the balloon or gas-bag (it is under control and less liable to become unmanageable when subjected to the varying conditions of atmospheric currents and storms.

The bearings h are formed in or fixed to a horizontal cross-bar 14:, which connects the braces 14 thereat to each other, and thereby acts as a transverse brace to the frame b.

Rotation may be imparted to the shafts and propellers f g from the motors e by the bevelgeared wheels 15 15 and counter-shaft 16 (shown in Figs. 1 and 3) or by any other suitable well-known mechanism.

It is to be here noted that the combined weight of the car (Z, with its appurtenances, is so arranged that on the ascent of the inflated gas-bag a therewith the bottom 4 of the gasbag a normally assumes and is held at an inclination upward from the horizon at the stern to the front end or prow of the gas-bag a, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, whereby on the forward movement of the air-ship by its propellers f the prow of the gas-bag a operates as a wedge in cleaving the air, or, in other words, by this means the air impinges upon both the upper and lower surfaces of the gasbag a, thereby insuringv and maintaining its stability and rectilinear progression in the desired direction, besides'rendering the action of the aeroplane 0 more sensitive and effective in directing the prow of the gas-bag a upward or downward, whereas when the bottom of the gas-bag lies in a horizontal plane, as usually the case, the air acts normally only upon its upper surface, which consequently tends to depress the forward end of the gasbag without any counteracting resistance on its under side, so that in the event of a collapse of the balloon the bottom of the gas-bag is caused by the upper air-pressure to descend suddenly, whereas with the inclined bottom 6 of the gas-bag a, which in case of the escape of the gas remains intact, the bottom 5 is prevented by the lower air-pressure from a sudden descent at its front end and with the aid of the propellers f and aeroplane 0 acts as a parachute for insuring its gradual descent, with the car I) and its appurtenances, to the ground in safety.

For insuring the rigidity of the frame or bar 7) arms 17 project therefrom and. are connected to each other and to the frame I; at a suitable distance along the latter toward its forward and rear end, by wire bracing 18. W'ire braces 19 also extend from the frame 6 to the platform (Z, or any other suitable system of bracing may be used.

is a rudder which is located centrally and at right angles to the base 1 of the gas-bag a. in proximity to its rear end or stern of the air-ship.

The rudder d is hinged, or, in other words, held in hinged suspension, at its heel in juxtaposition to the base 4 by a cord or wire 20, which extends from each side thereof and is fixed at its outer end to the frame 6. To the outer free portion of the rudder a at each side thereof is fixed a cord or wire 21, which extends to within reach of the aeronaut on the platform (Z, whereby the rudder can be directed on its hinge 20 to the right or left, as desired.

If desirecha second rudder may be likewise arranged at the forward end of the air-ship.

Vithin the gas-bag a is preferably arranged an auxiliary bag k, composed of some light and elastic material and adapted to be inflated and expanded by air which enters the bag it through a tube 22, attached at one end thereto and thence coiled on the floor 4 of the gas-bag a, from which it passes through a gastight hole in the fabric to an air-pump (not shown) operated by the aeronaut or by the motors c on the platform (Z, as found most suitable.

To the front and rear ends of the bag Zr, which lies loosely on the floor 4 of the gasbag a, are attached cords 23 and 2 which extend through gas-tight holesin the fabric 5 at the front and rear ends, respectively, of the gas-bag a to within reach of the aeronaut, whereby the bag k when inflated by the air supplied thereto through the tube 22 to the size shown by full lines in Fig. 1 or to that indicated by the broken lines can be moved forward or rearward along the floor 1, and thereby displace the gas within the bag (0 accordingly and cause it to flow toward the opposite end of the bag a, which rises at this end in obedience thereto. Moreover, by inflating the bag k with air the gas in the bag a presses proportionately upon and maintains the tautness of the fabric 5.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an air-ship, the combination of a gasbag having a suitable frame, and having its bottom surface flat and normally inclined upward longitudinally from its rear end, a platform dependent from the frame, a shaft located beneath the gas-bag, bearings fixed to the frame for the said shaft, a propeller fixed on the shaft, an auxiliary bag located within the gas-bag and having an elastic envelop, means for admitting air to the auxiliary bag and for moving the auxiliary bag within the form, and means for admitting air to the aux.- iliary bag, substantial]; as described.

In testimony Wl16100f l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

.. HENRY E. HONEYWELL.

Witnesses:

EDWARD W. FURRELL, Ur. L. BELFRY. 

